You are island-hopping the Andaman Sea from Phuket through Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, and possibly Koh Lipe. Your Thailand eSIM worked in Bangkok. The question is which islands have coverage and which do not.
Andaman Island Coverage by Island
| Island / Location | AIS | Reality |
|---|---|---|
| Phuket (Patong, Kata, Old Town) | Excellent 5G | Any eSIM works |
| Koh Phi Phi Don (village and main beach) | Good 4G | Any eSIM works in the village |
| Koh Phi Phi viewpoint and cliff paths | Patchy | Signal drops — download offline Maps in village before hiking |
| Koh Phi Phi Leh (Maya Bay) | Zero | No signal — no permanent population, no towers |
| Koh Lanta (Long Beach, Klong Dao) | Good | AIS preferred for Koh Lanta |
| Koh Lanta south end near national park | Patchy to zero | Download offline Maps before driving south |
| Koh Lipe (walking street area) | Good | AIS provides solid coverage for a remote island at 70km offshore |
| Koh Ngai, Koh Mook, Trang islands | Patchy | Small islands — resort WiFi is primary, mobile signal limited |
| Krabi (Ao Nang) | Strong | Any eSIM works. Railay Beach: patchy (no road access) |
| Ferries between islands (open sea) | Minimal mid-crossing | Use offline Maps and entertainment for ferry crossings |
Three Real Andaman Situations
Situation 1: Maya Bay — zero signal is expected and fine
Maya Bay is on Phi Phi Leh, a separate uninhabited island. No towers, no signal on any carrier. Day trip boats take 20 minutes from Phi Phi Don. Photograph offline, upload from your guesthouse on return. The lack of signal here is not a problem — it is part of the experience.
Situation 2: Koh Lanta motorbike south, signal drops
A traveler drives from Long Beach toward the national park at the island's southern tip. AIS holds through the middle of the island. Near the park entrance: one bar then zero. The road is obvious, but offline Maps eliminates uncertainty on unmarked turns. Download offline Maps for Koh Lanta before leaving Long Beach.
Situation 3: Phuket to Koh Lipe ferry, 3-hour open sea crossing
Signal drops to zero mid-crossing on all carriers. The ferry may have slow satellite WiFi. Download offline entertainment before boarding. On arrival in Koh Lipe: AIS reconnects in the walking street area within a few minutes of docking.
3 Questions Before Andaman Island Hopping
1. Does your eSIM connect to AIS? For the Andaman circuit including Koh Lanta, Koh Lipe, and smaller islands: AIS has the widest reach. Confirm your plan's network before purchasing.
2. Have you downloaded offline Maps for every island? Download Phuket, Krabi, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, Koh Lipe in Google Maps offline mode. Do this in Phuket before you start the circuit. Each subsequent island has less reliable WiFi for large downloads.
3. Are you continuing to Malaysia after Thailand? If your island circuit ends in Koh Lipe and you cross to Langkawi by ferry: a SG+MY+TH eSIM or SE Asia 7-country plan covers both countries without a plan change at the border.
FAQ
Does a Thailand eSIM work on Koh Phi Phi?
In Phi Phi Don village and main beach areas: yes, solid 4G on AIS. On the viewpoint hiking trail above the village: patchy, dropping on cliff sections. On Phi Phi Leh (Maya Bay): zero coverage. Download offline Maps for the viewpoint trail before leaving the village.
Is Koh Lipe connected despite being 70km offshore?
Yes — AIS has installed infrastructure on Koh Lipe that provides functional 4G in the main walking street and beach areas. It is impressive for an island at that distance from the mainland. Quieter beaches away from the walking street are more variable. For navigation and messaging on Koh Lipe: AIS-based Thailand eSIM is reliable in the main tourist zone.
How much data for 10 days of Andaman island hopping?
Standard use — navigation, WhatsApp, daily Instagram uploads: 3–5 GB covers a 10-day Andaman circuit comfortably. Beach bars and guesthouses on major islands have WiFi. Use it for large uploads and rely on eSIM for navigation and messaging between those WiFi points.
Andaman islands next? Thailand eSIM on AIS — from $1.49. Download offline Maps for Phi Phi before you leave the mainland.